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Originally Posted by LMich
BTW, planning any updates for South Rose at East Lovell (can't wait until this gets a name)?
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I'll have to get over there soon. Ever since we moved, it's not on my direct commute anymore, but I still work just a few minutes' walk from there. Agreed - it needs an official name - "that building at South Rose and East Lovell" is a mouthful to say.
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Originally Posted by subterranean
So what is driving this new mini office boom? I see the tenants for this one will be primarily nonprofits (Kalamzoo Promise), but do the locals see this as a long-term trend or the recent growing economy?
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I guess it's part of the bigger national trend of renewed interest in living and working downtown. And I hope (and feel) that it will be long-term and not just a fad, leading to greater and greater increases and returns with downtown housing and commercial real estate. There is a plethora of non-profits and development-savvy local interest groups that have been promoting Kalamazoo hard, locally and abroad. Also a City Commission, Planning Department, and BRA that all seem very intent on keeping up with, or ahead of the curve, when it comes to promoting urban development through financial incentives and zoning changes. I think local leaders here are pretty progressive when compared to other small-tier cities, especially when it comes to trying to work with developers. There's this sense of get in the game and compete, or be left behind in the dust. And Kalamazoo has surprisingly stepped up to the plate time and time again. I don't expect another 15-story tower before the next downturn, but with each new building, it slowly defines Kalamazoo as a more urban area than many would think, and further increases the likelihood of renewed interest in building downtown.
The Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan Chapter will actually be presenting its economic forecast for the region on December 4 at the Radisson. It would be interesting to attend this.